Does Training in Table Creation Enhance Table Interpretation? A Quasi-Experimental Study With Follow-Up

Abstract

Quantitative and statistical literacy are core domains in the undergraduate psychology curriculum. An important component of such literacy includes interpretation of visual aids, such as tables containing results from statistical analyses. This article presents results of a quasi-experimental study with longitudinal follow-up that tested the effectiveness of a new technique for enhancing student interpretation of American Psychological Association-formatted tables. Undergraduate students exposed to the technique performed better than students not exposed on measures of table interpretation. Effect sizes between groups were large, even after a 3-month follow-up assessment. An active learning experience in which students learn how to create tables can enhance student’s ability to interpret tables presented in empirical psychological literature.